Direct and alternating current reverse mechanism for electric generators.



No. 741,665. 7 PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903. O. HIGGINS.

DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT REVERSE MECHANISM FOR M ELECTRIC GENERATORS. APPLICATION rum) JUNE a. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Inwfitor, MS

ZOz'tnes 5 es.-

AW W Mala UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1903.

RAE-EN? OFFICE.

OLIVER HIGGINS, OF NAPOLEON, OlIlO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,665, dated October 20, 1903.

Application filed June 8, 1903. Serial No. 160,528. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, OLIVER" HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Napoleon in the county of Henry and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direct and Alternating Ourrent Reverse Mechanism for Electric Generators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain mechanism for causing an automatic reverse of the directand alternating currents in magneto-electric or other electric machines, and is particularly adapted for use in party-line telephone systems in which central is called by a magnetogenerator.

In the present party-line telephones employing the magneto call system both for central and the subscribers theseveral parties on the line are being constantly annoyed by the ringing of the bell when central is being called, as the central cannot be called without the ringing of all the others on the line.

The object of my invention is to obviate this cause of annoyance'by providing means whereby a direct current of electricity may be generated by turning the crank connected with the telephone in one direction, and thus call central by either the signal-drop or central-energy system without ringing the bells of the various subscribers on the line, or by turning the crank in the opposite direction an alternating current may be generated, and thus enable central or any subscriber on the line to be called by the desired number of rings of the bell.

-While the essential features of my invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a partly-sectional vertical side elevation of a magneto-electric generator equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cam-grooved sleeve and a portion of the crank-shaft, showing the shaft as being turned to the right and in the desired longitudinal position for generating an alternating current of electricity. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the shaft as being turned to the left and in the desired longitu' dinal position for generating a direct current of electricity; and Fig. 5 is a partly sectional View of the same, illustrating the relative degrees of turning and longitudinal movements of the crank-shaft within the cam-grooved sleeve when said shaft is turned in either direction.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame which incloses the armature, (not shown,) and B the stationary magnets used in an ordinary magneto-electric generator, which I have preferably shown in the illustration of my invention.

Arising centrally from either end of the frame A are the standards or brackets 1 and 1", which form bearings for and support the horizontal shaft 2 above the armature of the machine. A sleeve 3 encircles said shaft 2 adjacent to the inner side of the bracket 1 and is provided on its upper surface with a diagonally-curved cam-groove 4,the said groove having its two terminals at different distances from its upper horizontal point, as shown in Fig. 5, and adapted to receive and form a guideway for a pin 5, which is inserted in said shaft 2, thus permitting a limited turning of said shaft in either direction independent of said sleeve. An expansionspring 6 is coiled about a portion of the shaft 2 and adapted to bear against the rigid collar 7 and the inner face of the bracket 1, normally retaining said shaft in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted on the free end of the shaft 2, adjacent to the cam-grooved sleeve 3, are the crank 8, by means of which rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 2, and the large spurgear 9, which meshes with the smaller spurgear 10 and transmits motion from the shaft 2 to the armature of the generator. The spur-gear 9 is loose on the shaft 2, but is made rigid to and adapted to turn with the cam-grooved sleeve 3 by reason of a clamp 11 engaging with the hub of said gear and with said sleeve or in any other suitable manner.

12 represents the commutator usual to all.

machines of this class, but which I have changed and improved upon in certain particulars to meet the requirements of my invention. The commutator is formed with the unbroken circular portion 13, which transmits What is known as the alternating current, the broken circular or segmental portion 13, which transmits what is known as the direct current, and the current-interrupterl. The portions 13 and 13 are formed of brass or othersuitable conducting material and the current-interrupter 14 of hard rubber or other non-conducting substance, the said portions and current-interrupter together forming an oblong spool or commutator, as shown in Fig. 1.

Secured to the bracket 1, preferably in vertical alinement with the commutator 12, is the boss 15, to which is fulcrumed a lever 16, the lower arm of which forms an electric brush and is adapted to have frictional engagement with the commutator 12. The upper arm of the lever 16 is forked or bifurcated to adapt it to engage the concave groove provided on the periphery of the free end of the shaft 2 and have a rocking movement therein when said shaft is moved longitudinally. The bifurcated end of the lever 16 where it engages with the shaft 2 and the boss 15 where it is secured to the bracket 1 are properly insulated, as shown at 17.

It being understood that an electric bell will only be rung by an alternating current of electricity, it is apparent that when it is desired to call up some subscriber on the line the crank 8 is turned to the right, thereby causing the pin 5 to move in the longest direction of the cam-groove, as shownin Fig. 3, and the shaft 2 to move longitudinally in its bearings a sufficient distance to oscillate the lever 16 on its fulcrum and cause the brush to come in contact with the portion 13 of the commutator 12, thus transmitting an alternating current of electricity. When it is desired to transmit a direct current of electricity and thus call central by means of the signal-drop or central-energy systems without the disturbing of other parties on the line, the crank is turned to the left, causing the pin 5 to move the short way of'the camgroove 4 and the shaft 2 to have a sufficient longitudinal movement to force the brush 16 in frictional contact with the segmental portion 13 of the commutator. In each instance the shaft .2 as soon as the crank is released is caused by means of the spring 6 to return to its normal position and the brush 16 to be thrown onto the current-interrupter 14.. The electricity generated by the armature and magnets passes off from the of the cam-groove 4, thus causing the brush 16 to be thrown to receive the desired current before the rotation of the armature and commutator commences.

It is obvious that such changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction of the parts as fairly fall within the scope of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus of the class described having a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents, a brush pivotally mounted in adjacent position to said commutator, a rotatable shaft longitudinally movable in its bearings and having engagement with said brush, means for rotating said shaft, and means for causing said shaft to have a differential longitudinal movementaccording to the direction of its rotation and move said brush to receive the desired current.

2. An apparatus of the class described having a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents, a brush slidable along the face of said commutator, a member having engagement with said brush, means for causing a differential movement of said brush through the medium of said member as it is desired to generate an alternating or direct current, and means for generating said current.

3. An apparatus of the class described havinga commutator adapted to transmit different currents, a brush slidable along the face of said commutator, a horizontal member engaging said brush, means for causingagreater or less movement of said member and brush as it is desired to generate an alternating or direct current, and means for generating said current.

45. An apparatus of the class described having a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents, a brush longitudinally slidable on said commutator, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft in engagement with said brush, means for rotating said shaft, a cam for causing said shaft to have a varied longitudinal movement according to the direction of its rotation and move said brush longitudinally of said commutator to receive the desired current.

5. An apparatus of the class described having means for generating an electric current, a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents and provided with a current-interrupter, a brush mounted adjacent to and longitudinally slidable on said commutator, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft having engagement with said brush, means for rotating saidshaft, a cam for causing said shaft when rotated to transmit a desired movement to said brush for the purpose specified.

6. An apparatus of the class described having means for generating an electric current, acommutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents and provided with a current-interrupter, a movable brush mounted adjacent to said commutator, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft having engagement with said brush, means for rotating said shaft, a cam for causing said shaft when rorated to transmita desired movement to said brush, and means for causing said brush to return to and rest on said shunt when the rotation of said shaft ceases.

7. An apparatus of the class described having means for generating an electric current, a commutator adapted to transmit alternating and direct currents and provided with a current-interrupter, a brush pivotally mounted adjacent to said commutator adapted to have a sliding engagement therewith, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft in engagement with said brush, means for retatin g said shaft, a cam-grooved sleeve mounted on said shaft and adapted to impart a greater orless movement to said brush through the medium of said shaft according to the direction of rotation of said shaft, and means for normally causing said brush to remain in contact with said shunt, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus of the class described having a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents and provided with a current-interrupter, a brush in sliding engagement with said commutator, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft in engagement with said brush, a cam-grooved mem ber for causing a greater or less longitudinal movement of said shaft according to its direction of rotation and corresponding movement of said brush on said commutator, means for causing said shaft and brush to normally remain in one position, a crank for rotating said shaft, a spur-gear loose on said shaft and rigid to said cam member, the said spurgear meshing with a companion spur-gear to transmit power for generating an electric current, substantially as described.

9. A machine of the class described having a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents, a movable brush mounted adjacent to said commutator, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable shaft in engagement with said brush, a grooved sleeve mounted on and adapted to cause a greater or less independent longitudinal movement of said shaft according to its direction of rotation and a corresponding movement of said brush on said commutator, means for rotating said shaft, and means for transmitting power from said shaft to said machine to generate a current of electricity, substantially as described.

10. An apparatus of the class described having a commutator so constructed as to transmit direct and alternating currents of electricity, a brush movable along the face of said commutator, a member adapted to have a rotary and longitudinal movement and engagement with said brush, a cam-grooved sleeve mounted on and adapted to cause a greater or less independent longitudinal movement of said member according to its direction of rotation and a corresponding movement of said brush on said commutator, means for rotating said member, and means for transmitting power to said apparatus so connected with said member as to remain stationary until said brush has been moved to the desired position on said commutator, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus of the class described having a commutator provided with a currentinterrupter and capable of transmitting direct and alternating currents, a brush movable longitudinally of said commutator, a member insulated from and adapted to move said brush to the desired position on said commutator, and means for transmitting power to said apparatus.

12. The combination with an apparatus of the class described having means for generating a current of electricity and a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents, of a longitudinally-movable member, means for causing a varied movement of said member, and a brush insulated from and capable of being moved by said member to receive the desired current.

13. The combination with an apparatus of the class described having power means and a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents, of a rotatable and longitudinally-movable member, means for rotating said member, means for causing a greater or less longitudinal movement of said member according to its direction of rotation, and a brush insulated from and adapted to be moved by said member to receive the desired] current.

14;. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, a commutator adapted to transmit direct and alternating currents of electricity, a brush movable 011 said commutator, and a movable member insulated from and adapted to move said brush to the desired position on said com Inutator.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLIVER HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

O. H. FIZER, G. A. JAHN, 

